The 82nd Annual Menton Lemon Festival in in full flow so talking about citrus in perfumery seems timely. The festival has been officially marking (we hope) the farewell to winter since the end of the 19th century. For two weeks, the Biovès Garden in the centre of town is filled with large statues and figurines, all made from citrus fruit. Our Luxe Provence Fragrance Consultant, Rebecca Amer, offers us this round up inspired by the season.
Citrus is always an important and a key ingredient in masculines, colognes and chypres. That the rise of perfume in Europe from the 17th century dovetails with the discovery and use of citrus oils, is no coincidence.
Here are my top five lemon-centric fragrances:
1. Dior’s Eau de Sauvage. Indisputably classy and crisp with a mossy base. This masterpiece can be worn by a man or a woman but preferably with a white shirt on a hot day.
2. L’Artisan Parfumeur Thé Pour Un Eté, an icy glass of jasmin tea with ice and a slice…. very very light, more of a cologne than an Eau de toilette. Refreshing and pretty.
3. Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien, a citrus that takes you to the Mediterranean (wherever you may really be). Sparkling, dry and gives an icy cool effect. The soap is amazing too, if you indulge in luxury soaps, this one is worth it.
4. Atelier Cologne Cédrat Enivrant. I am cheating slightly as cédrat is a variant of lemon; it’s a bitter lemon. This niche line specializes in cologne so you’d expect excellence and it does not disappoint. Crushed lemons and a dash of lime, a few basil leaves and a hint of mint. This would be my top pick for a morning after the night before. Too much rosé last night? A jolt of Cédrat Enivrant and all in the world is well again. Very suave and may appeal to men more than women, I would wear it happily though.
5. Chanel Cristalle… I can’t leave this one off my list. She is a cool customer and a classically elegant, floral citrus that can be worn all year round. The Eau de Parfum is rounder and softer, fruity even, the sparkling and vibrant Eau de Toilette is my favourite of the two. Try them both! Somebody in the blogosphere described Cristalle as “an uptown girl” and I would say that’s quite right.
Rebecca Amer of Irridessence
Fragrance Consultant & Personalized Perfume Tours in Aix-en-Provence
rebecca@irridessence.com
www.facebook.com/irridessence
+33 (0)672 680 051
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